RXwildlife Sightings

Sphagnum mosses, or bog mosses, are not species you generally associate with the Romney Marshes, although 3000 years ago there was an extensive raised Sphagnum bog near where the wind turbines are being erected.

This species occurs at one location on Dungeness, the Cladium Pit. It can be recognised by the very rough rather spikey appearance of the “leaves”.

To find this moss I had to fight my way through a wall of tall reed risking flooded wellingtons, Read the rest of this entry »

One of the big differences between Pevensey Levels, where the fen raft spider occurs (see below), and the Romney Marshes is that many of our Marshes are sheep grazed, which produces a typically short lawn down to the water’s edge. At Pevensey the fields are cattle grazed and you get much more structure - tall sedges, etc, growing along the water margin. If you are looking for this species, or for introduction sites then a first step might be to look for sites that are grazed by cattle as a first priority.

Dr Helen Smith of Natural England has asked for help in searching for new populations of the Fen Raft Spider (Dolomedes plantarius) in our area. This impressive, but little known species, is currently recorded at only three UK sites, one of which is the Pevensey Levels. Because of its rarity, one of the planned actions in its BAP is to consider translocating it to new sites in both East Anglia and South-east England.
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The White-winged Black Tern has again be present at Ternery Pool and Flat Beach Quarry this morning (and later at Long Pit). Exellent views can be had from Crittall Hide. Other highlights this morning have included, Peregrine, 7 Common Sandpipers and 2 Whimbrel.

Highlight in the Lime Kiln moth trap this morning was this lovely Bedstraw Hawk-moth. This immigrant species occurs in small numbers in Britain most years (and sometimes even manages to breed), but this is only the third record for the area and the first time the species has been recorded on the reserve proper.

The highlight from an afternoon spent in Brede High wood yesterday was finding Golden-ringed Dragonfly exuvia in one of the woodland streams. The first picture below shows clearly the large intermeshing “teeth” on the labial palps, this feature will distinguish it from any other species. Three adults were also seen on the wing including an ovipositing female (pictured), during her resting periods in emergent vegetation she could be approached giving fantastic close views. Two males also gave fine views patrolling woodland clearings, these also stopped for frequent rests to cool down during the heat of the afternoon allowing close views.

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